JUST when they probably thought they were safe, Durham slipped into a bit of a pickle this afternoon, sparked by a freak dismissal.
Following on 201 behind with 60 overs to survive, Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings had reached the seventh over when a straight drive by the latter was deflected into the stumps by the bowler, Liam Plunkett.
With the presence of the Sky TV umpires bringing a third umpire into play, Martin Saggers was called into operation. But Stoneman didn’t need to wait for his verdict. He knew he had been run out.
Durham then subsided to 42 for four in the 19th over before Jennings and Paul Collingwood took them to 55 for four at tea with 34 overs remaining.
Scott Borthwick went first ball, also departing without waiting for the verdict after gloving a short ball from Jack Brooks to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd. Not many would have “walked” considering that umpire Alex Wharf has given next to nothing all match.
Four balls later he drawled “not out” again to the astonishment of his fellow Yorkshiremen, who thought they had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind.
At least he would have lasted twice as long as in the first innings, but the flamboyant nature of the Sri Lankan’s intended drive suggested he was not prepared to dig in for 52 overs.
Nor did he, making 14 before he followed an away swinger he should have left alone from Ryan Sidebottom, who had him caught by Adam Lyth at second slip for the second time in the match.
Michael Richardson played back to Adil Rashid’s first ball and edged to Hodd, but there were no further alarms.